There are an infinite number of beaches, so this year, to determine the
best sandy spots, Travel + Leisure launched its first annual Best
Beaches Survey—and asked savvy travelers to reveal their favorites.

The
list started with 54 famous beaches, grouped by type, which voters then
ranked. One point came across loud and clear: you don’t have to travel
far to experience a spectacular beach. In fact, U.S. beaches won in most
categories, from seclusion to people-watching.

In the
Caribbean, meanwhile, all-inclusive hotels and endless
activities—snorkeling, bodyboarding, sea kayaking—are some of the
reasons that families love Seven Mile Beach, in the Cayman Islands.
Read on to find the best beach for your next trip.

Best
for Activities: Thanks to a clutch of mega-hotels along Wailea’s small
beach coves, there are plenty of expert guides on hand at this
top-ranked beach for activities. They’ll lead the kids on snorkeling,
canoeing, and boogie-boarding excursions.

Best
for Families: Pastel wood-paneled houses border dunes on this
picture-perfect Gulf Coast beach, ranked No. 1 for families. After games
of waterfront Frisbee, the entire crew can take cruiser bikes into town
for a casual seafood dinner.

Best
for Seclusion: There are no permanent residents on One Foot Island, top
ranked for seclusion, where travelers can walk through shallow blue
waters to long sandbars. Drumbeats at sundown signal the last boat back
to neighboring Aitutaki island.

Best
for Families: This island’s fine sand and tranquil blue waters would
impress any traveler, though parents are especially taken with the
all-inclusive hotel options, and kids love the laid-back activities,
from snorkeling to shell-hunting, at this second-ranked beach for
families.

Best
for Seclusion: A top entry in the secluded category is Voutoumi beach
on Anti Paxos, the smallest of the Ionian Islands. To get to the remote
crescent of white sand surrounded by steep cliffs, take a short boat
ride from Paxos Island.

Best
for Activities: Curaçao has seen an influx of visitors thanks to its
appearance on NBC’s Bachelorette. But Playa Kalki, a top pick for
activities, has long been prized by expert divers for its reefs and
limestone coves, home to eagle rays and damselfish.

Best
for Dramatic Landscapes: With a ring of white sand surrounded by
mangroves and limestone walls blanketed by dense foliage, it's easy to
see why this beach on the Andaman Sea nabbed the No. 3 landscape
ranking—and why director Danny Boyle chose it for cult-favorite The
Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Best
for Wildlife Viewing: Rated No. 3 in this category, Virginia’s barrier
islands Assateague and Chincoteague are indeed famous for their wild
horses and also draw crowds for bird-watching (herons and egrets are
common).

Best
for People-Watching: One of Europe’s most glamorous shorelines
naturally ranked highly in this category. The half moon–shaped beach
attracts the champagne-and-high-heels crowd that’s willing to shell out
$40 for lounge chairs and umbrellas.